Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael and Mendoza Cost of Living Comparison Between San Rafael and Mendoza

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $906 per month in San Rafael vs $1,104 in Mendoza, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,433 per month in San Rafael vs $1,750 in Mendoza, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,959 per month in San Rafael vs $2,396 in Mendoza, rent included.

San Rafael is about 18% cheaper than Mendoza, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both San Rafael and Mendoza are more affordable than the global median – San Rafael 33% lower, Mendoza 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.17 ARS 14.5K

$11.12 ARS 15.9K

-8.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.75 ARS 28.2K

$41.16 ARS 58.8K

-52.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.11 ARS 8,726

$9.29 ARS 13.3K

-34.23%

Cappuccino

$1.76 ARS 2,513

$3.61 ARS 5,160

-51.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 ARS 1,457

$2.32 ARS 3,319

-56.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ARS 1,444

$2.05 ARS 2,931

-50.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.98 ARS 1,404

$2.02 ARS 2,893

-51.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.54 ARS 2,205

$3.05 ARS 4,352

-49.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 ARS 1,493

$1.29 ARS 1,836

-18.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 ARS 2,203

$1.54 ARS 2,201

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 ARS 2,035

$2.02 ARS 2,890

-29.70%

Eggs

$1.63 ARS 2,325

$2.13 ARS 3,044

-23.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.53 ARS 7,894

$11.51 ARS 16.4K

-51.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.43 ARS 10.6K

$7.60 ARS 10.9K

-2.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.55 ARS 9,353

$9.76 ARS 13.9K

-32.89%

Apples (1kg)

$1.72 ARS 2,452

$2.03 ARS 2,896

-15.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 ARS 2,170

$1.53 ARS 2,179

-0.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 ARS 2,181

$1.49 ARS 2,126

2.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.92 ARS 1,314

$2.08 ARS 2,972

-55.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 ARS 927

$1.03 ARS 1,464

-36.89%

Onion (1kg)

$0.73 ARS 1,044

$0.99 ARS 1,408

-26.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.59 ARS 846

$0.97 ARS 1,388

-39.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 ARS 1,733

$2.61 ARS 3,731

-53.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.76 ARS 2,513

$2.45 ARS 3,496

-28.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.89 ARS 6,985

$5.15 ARS 7,354

-5.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 ARS 1,534

$1.97 ARS 2,821

-45.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ARS 2,286

$3.57 ARS 5,105

-55.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 ARS 1,194

$0.73 ARS 1,045

15.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.18 ARS 26.0K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 ARS 643

$0.44 ARS 631

2.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.98 ARS 1,396

$0.98 ARS 1,404

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.97 ARS 7,096

$4.89 ARS 6,984

1.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 ARS 1,191

$1.16 ARS 1,661

-28.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.9K ARS 45.6M

$32.1K ARS 45.9M

-0.63%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.0K ARS 47.1M

$33.4K ARS 47.7M

-1.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$76.2 ARS 108.9K

$78.8 ARS 112.5K

-3.25%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.71 ARS 9,590

$16.93 ARS 24.2K

-60.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.38 ARS 22.0K

$21.44 ARS 30.6K

-28.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.70 ARS 36.7K

$27.12 ARS 38.7K

-5.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.55 ARS 19.4K

$16.05 ARS 22.9K

-15.58%

Cinema Ticket

$6.03 ARS 8,617

$6.14 ARS 8,767

-1.79%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$102 ARS 145.7K

$102 ARS 145.1K

0.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,199 ARS 3.1M

$2,194 ARS 3.1M

0.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$80.7 ARS 115.3K

$82.0 ARS 117.1K

-1.50%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$77.2 ARS 110.3K

$76.8 ARS 109.7K

0.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$147 ARS 209.5K

$152 ARS 216.4K

-3.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 ARS 167.3K

$120 ARS 172.1K

-2.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 ARS 485.2K

$360 ARS 514.6K

-5.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 ARS 339.8K

$275 ARS 392.8K

-13.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$690 ARS 985.3K

$618 ARS 883.0K

11.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$530 ARS 757.8K

$500 ARS 714.8K

6.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,309 ARS 3.3M

$1,650 ARS 2.4M

39.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,127 ARS 1.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$745 ARS 1.1M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for San Rafael: June 6, 2026

Last update for Mendoza: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $340 in San Rafael versus $360 in Mendoza. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in San Rafael versus $41.00 in Mendoza. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $250 – making San Rafael the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

San Rafael vs Mendoza: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 22%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,359 per month in San Rafael and $1,656 in Mendoza. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in San Rafael, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $906 in San Rafael and $1,104 in Mendoza. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $102 per month in San Rafael and $102 in Mendoza. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in San Rafael, where all-in costs run around $906, than in Mendoza at $1,104. In San Rafael it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mendoza it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward San Rafael – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with San Rafael. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mendoza makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.